Florence Mills, or Harlem's Little Blackbird, found singing and music both comforting and uplifting. Soon, people began to notice her amazing talent and she would go on to perform in local venues as well as venues around the world. Her generosity and talent would make her a role model, and her "cry" for equal rights would be heard by everyone, and everyone loved her.The author's note informs readers that her voice was never recorded and her performances were never filmed. But her legacy leaves on due to the impact she left behind. ( )

This was such a powerful book. The illustrator did a wonderful job with the pictures in the book. This will surely capture the attention of young readers. The author uses descriptive adjectives to help readers imagine that they are in the early 1900's. She also touches upon very important situations that were occuring during that time also. The author dicusses segregation between Caucasians and African Americans. Overall, both the author and the illustrator, did a wonderful job writing about the life of Florence Mills so that readers of all ages can appreciate her trials and tribulations. If I were a teacher, I would read this story to my students' when discussing famous African American people. ( )

Florence Mills was a Harlem Renaissance singer, who fought against trials and tribulations during a time of segregation. She enchanted many with her beautiful voice and used her talents to help others along the way. It is an inspirational story about how something so simple such as singing can have such a positive effect. This is a great book to use for elementary levels up to about fourth grade. ( )

Florence Mills was born at the turn of the twentieth century and grew up to be a prominent jazz singer. She faced challenges as she was coming into her own as a singer, such as her family and friends not being allowed in to a white-only theater when she was performing one of her first shows. After her family moved to New York and as time went on, Mills became part of Harlem Renaissance and was the first black woman offered a leading role in Ziegfeld Follies, but she turned it down and chose shows that would give other black singers and actors a chance to perform. Harlem's Little Blackbird tells her story in picture book format and is an engaging, vividly illustrated biography. It would work well as an introduction to biographies for late elementary school students, as the text is a bit complex for younger students. Unfortunately, while it includes an author's note about Mills' life and legacy, it does not include any source notes, which would be useful to educators, librarians, parents, and even students who want more information on her life. ( )

Florence Mills was a singer and dance who became internationally known and used her fame to help other people. A true hero. I cannot believe I haven't heard of her before today. I read in the Author's Note that she has never been recorded or taped and I am reallllly bummed out about that. I wish I could hear this remarkable blackbird sing. ( )

Wikipedia in English

Zora and Langston. Billie and Bessie. Eubie and Duke. If the Harlem Renaissance had a court, they were its kings and queens. But there were other, lesser known individuals whose contributions were just as impactful, such as Florence Mills. Born to parents who were former-slaves Florence knew early on that she loved to sing. And that people really responded to her sweet, bird-like voice. Her dancing and singing catapulted her all the way to the stages of 1920s Broadway where she inspired songs and even entire plays! Yet with all this success, she knew firsthand how bigotry shaped her world. And when she was offered the role of a lifetime from Ziegfeld himself, she chose to support all-black musicals instead.

Fans of When Marian Sang and Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa will jump at the chance to discover another talented performer whose voice transcended and transformed the circumstances society placed on her.

(retrieved from Amazon Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:02:32 -0400)

▾Library descriptions

A tribute to lesser-known Harlem Renaissance performer Florence Mills includes coverage of her youth as a child of former slaves, her singing and dancing performances that inspired songs and entire plays, and the struggles with racism that prompted her advocacy of all-black theater and musicals.… (more)